1. CHAPTER 4
Operating System
A.Multiple choice questions:
1. Which among the following is not an example of an Operating System?
a. Windows 7 b. Linux c. Unix d. Microsoft Word
Ans. d. Microsoft Word
2.Name the type of Operating System that allows multiple users to run programs at the same time
on a single computer.
a. Multi-Threading Operating System b. Multitasking Operating System
c. Distributed Operating System d. Multi-User Operating System
Ans. d. Multi-User Operating System
3.Name the type of Operating System that processes inputs simultaneously to such an extent that it
is fast enough to affect the next input or process.
a. Real Time Operating System b. Multitasking Operating System
c. Distributed Operating System d. Multi-User Operating System
Ans. a. Real Time Operating System
4.Name the type of Operating System that allows several applications to be loaded and
simultaneously used in the memory.
a. Real Time Operating System b. Multitasking Operating System
c. Distributed Operating System d. Multi-User Operating System
Ans. b. Multitasking Operating System
5.Name the specialized program that acts as a path between the operating system and virtually
all hardware not on the computer’s motherboard.
a. Device Driver b. Virtual Memory c. System Driver d. None of these
Ans. a. Device Driver
6. Which of the following does not come under the memory management of the Operating System?
a. It keeps track of the main memory and checks which part is in use and by which process. It
also keeps track of the part that is not in use.
b. It checks whether the RAM is physically broken or not and gives a relevant message during
the booting process.
c. It makes a decision on which process will get memory when and by how much.
d. It allocates the memory according to the requirement of the process.
Ans. b. It checks whether the RAM is physically broken or not and gives a relevant message
during the booting process.
2. 7. Which of the following is the File Management functionality of an Operating System?
a. It handles the organisation and tracking of files and directories (folders) saved or retrieved
from the secondary storage devices.
b. It ensures that a file is contained in a folder.
c. It does not track the time of creation of a file.
d. It ensures that the secondary memory is not used by any programs.
Ans. d. It ensures that the secondary memory is not used by any programs.
8. Name India’s Linux based Operating System developed at CDAC.
a. Bharat Linux b. Bharat Operating System Solutions
c. India Operating System d. All of these
Ans. b. Bharat Operating System Solutions
9. A very popular Operating System mage by Google for hand held devices like Smart Phones and Tablets.
a. Symbian b. Windows 8 c. Android d. iOS
Ans. c. Android
10. Name the developer of Linux.
a. Linus Benedict Torvalds b. Linus Andrews
c. Linus Tux d. Linus Benedict Simonds
Ans. a. Linus Benedict Torvalds
B.Fill in the blanks:
1. An Operating System is software that provides a platform for other applications to be executed.
2. The Distributed operating system allows software and data to be distributed around the system.
3. Booting is the process of loading the Operating System into the memory during start up.
4. ios is an Operating System used in iPhone’s.
5. Dennis Ritchie was one of the co-creators of the UNIX Operating System.
6. Process Scheduling is the process through which the Operating System decides which process
gets the processor when and for how much time.
7. The Solaris Operating System is currently maintained by Oracle Company.
8. The Kernel layer of the Operating System is responsible for multitasking, process control,
exception handling and interrupt processing.
9. The User Interface is a software layer which allows the user to interact directly with the
operating system.
10. Multithreading is an Operating System that allows different parts of a single program to
run concurrently.
C. State whether the following statements are true or false:
1. The iOS is developed and maintained by Apple. [True]
2. Real Time and Multi Threading Operating System behaves same like each other. [False]
3. Booting is the process of storing the Operating System into the Hard Disk. [False]
3. 4. Tracking of files and folders is the File Management functionality. [True]
5. The lowest layer of the Operating System layer is the Kernel. [True]
6. Operating System is not responsible for de-allocating the memory when a process no longer
requires it. [False]
7. An Application Software can execute even without an Operating System. [False]
8. Symbian is an Operating System developed by Google. [False]
9. iOS is a very popular Operating System in Apple’s hand-held devices. [True]
10. An Application Software allocates the CPU to a process. [False]
11. Operating System is also responsible for managing devices. [True]
D.Answer the following questions:
1. What is an Operating System?
Ans. An Operating System is a System Software that manages and serves other programs and
also provides an interface for the user to interact with a computer.
2. Why is an Operating System needed for a Computer System?
Ans. An operating system is the driving force for using the computer. It provides a software
platform, on top of which, other programs, called application programs are executed. The
application programs are designed in such a way that it can run on the environment of a
particular operating system.
3. State one difference between Multiprocessing and Multitasking Operating System.
Ans. Multiprocessing Operating System supports and allocates programs on more than one CPU (or
processor). Multi-tasking operating System on the other hand allows several applications to be
loaded and simultaneously used in the memory. But the processor handles only one
application at a particular time and is capable of switching between the applications giving a
feeling that each application is getting executed simultaneously.
4. What is the function of a Distributed Operating System?
Ans. Distributed operating system allows software and data to be distributed around the system.
The software and files are stored on different storage devices which are located in
different geographical locations and may be accessed from different computer terminals
using this operating system.
5. Name the different functionalities associated with an Operating System.
Ans. The different functionalities associated with an Operating System are:
• Booting the Computer
• Processor Management
• Device Management
• Memory Management
• File Management
• User Interface
• Application Program Interface(API)
• Protection and Security
4. 6. State the process of Booting in a Computer System.
Ans. Booting refers to the process of powering on a computer and getting into the operating system.
During the boot process, the computer will perform a self-diagnostic, also known as a POST
(Power On Self-Test) and load necessary drivers and programs that help the computer and
devices communicate into the RAM.
7. Give two functionalities of the Processor Management.
Ans. Two functions of the Processor Management of an Operating System are:
• The operating system keeps track of the processor and the status of process.
• The operating system allocates the processor (CPU) to a process.
8. What do you understand by the term device management?
Ans. The operating system is responsible for managing device communication via their respective
drivers. The device driver is a specialized program that acts as a path between the operating
system and virtually all hardware not on the computer’s motherboard. The device driver acts as
a translator between the electrical signals of the hardware subsystems and the high-level
programming languages of the operating system, application and utility programs.
9. State two functionalities of the Memory Management of an Operating System.
Ans. The two functionalities of the Memory Management of an Operating System are:
• The operating system keeps track of the main memory and checks which part is in use and
by which process. It also keeps track of the part that is not in use.
• The operating system makes a decision on which process will get memory when and by how
much. Thus each process must have enough memory in which to execute, and should not overlap
the memory space of another process nor be run into by another process.
10. What is File Management?
Ans. The file management capability of an operating system is responsible for the way files and
folders are efficiently stored in the secondary memory. Accessing such files and folders in the
easiest possible manner is also its responsibility.
11. What is “User Interface”? What are the two possible User Interfaces of an Operating System?
Ans. User Interface refers to the environment through which a user interacts with the computer. The
two popular user interfaces are:
• Character User Interface (CUI)/ Command Line Interface
• Graphics User Interface (GUI)
12. State two security features that an Operating System can provide.
Ans. Two security features that an Operating System can provide are:
• It lets the resources of the computer to be used in a consistent way.
• It prevents unauthorized access to the computer.
13. Name the different layers in an Operating System Model.
Ans. There are five different layers in an Operating System namely:
• User Interface
• File Management System
• Input / Output
5. • Memory Management
• Kernel
14. What is a Kernel?
Ans. The Kernel of an Operating System refers to the lowest layer of the operating system. It acts
as a regulator for the whole system, controlling the allocation of time slices to users or
processes and ensuring that resources are allocated fairly. The kernel is responsible for
multi-tasking, process control, exception handling (on error handling) and interrupt
processing.
15. What made Android Operating System so popular?
Ans. Android Operating System is popular in hand-held devices not only it is because it is free,
but is also a stable version available for download in public environment.